Natural Products for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer

A special issue of Pharmaceuticals (ISSN 1424-8247). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 October 2026 | Viewed by 873

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, “G. d’Annunzio” University, 66100 Chieti, Italy
Interests: pharmacology; pharmacognosy; cell biology; antioxidants; anti-inflammatory activity; cancer prevention
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the most commonly diagnosed malignancies and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men worldwide. Despite significant advances in diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies, the management of advanced and treatment-resistant forms of prostate cancer continues to pose clinical challenges. In recent years, natural products have emerged as a promising source of novel therapeutic agents, offering multi-targeted mechanisms of action, reduced toxicity profiles, and potential synergy with conventional treatments.

This Special Issue, “Natural Products for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer”, aims to highlight the latest research advances in the identification, characterization, and application of natural compounds in the prevention and treatment of PCa. We invite original research articles, reviews, and short communications that explore bioactive molecules from plants, marine organisms, and microorganisms, as well as their molecular targets, mechanisms of action, pharmacokinetics, and clinical potential. Special attention will be given to studies that elucidate the role of natural products in modulating signaling pathways, overcoming drug resistance, and enhancing the efficacy of current therapeutic regimens.

We hope this Special Issue will serve as a valuable platform for researchers and clinicians to share insights and promote further investigations into the use of nature-inspired compounds in the ongoing fight against PCa.

We look forward to your valuable contribution.

Dr. Maria Loreta Libero
Dr. Annalisa Chiavaroli
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • prostate cancer
  • natural compounds
  • plants
  • urinary tract infections
  • supplements
  • signaling pathways

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

28 pages, 10066 KB  
Article
Pharmacological Mechanisms of Ursolic Acid Derivative Against Prostate Cancer via Regulating Cytoskeletal Homeostasis and Apoptotic Pathways
by Huiyue Shen, Zhaolan Ni, Haibo Guo, Xiaofeng Liu, Yaru Zhao, Xuan He, Yinghan Liu, Yan Zhao and Hongbo Teng
Pharmaceuticals 2026, 19(5), 726; https://doi.org/10.3390/ph19050726 - 2 May 2026
Viewed by 513
Abstract
Background: Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid with notable antitumor activity, yet its poor water solubility and insufficient targeting restrict clinical translation. Methods: Forty novel ursolic acid-phosphine derivatives bearing seven distinct lipophilic cationic moieties were synthesized via C28 modification [...] Read more.
Background: Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid with notable antitumor activity, yet its poor water solubility and insufficient targeting restrict clinical translation. Methods: Forty novel ursolic acid-phosphine derivatives bearing seven distinct lipophilic cationic moieties were synthesized via C28 modification and structurally characterized by 1H NMR and 13C NMR. Their antitumor activities in PC3-M cells were evaluated via in vitro assays. Mechanistic investigations were performed using transcriptomic analysis and Western blot. Molecular docking was performed to predict the binding profile of Compound 25 with FGFR1. In vivo antitumor efficacy and biosafety were assessed in RM-1 xenograft models in C57BL/6 mice. Results: Compound 25 (bearing a tris(3,5-dimethylphenyl)phosphine group at the C28 position with an alkyl chain length of five methylene units) exhibited the most potent activity against PC3-M cells, dose-dependently inhibiting proliferation, migration, and invasion and inducing apoptosis. It triggered mitochondrial apoptosis via ROS accumulation and disrupted cytoskeletal homeostasis by suppressing the FGFR1/KRAS/RAC1/PIP4K2 axis. Molecular docking results suggested its strong binding affinity and specificity. In vivo studies confirmed its significant antitumor effect and favorable safety. Conclusions: These results highlight the potential of Compound 25 as a promising lead compound and provide valuable insights for further medicinal chemistry optimization and the development of novel anticancer drugs derived from ursolic acid. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Products for the Treatment of Prostate Cancer)
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